Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 12,430 | $49,540 | $23.82 | |
| Alaska | 1,320 | $87,510 | $42.07 | |
| Arizona | 12,740 | $68,060 | $32.72 | |
| Arkansas | 5,610 | $42,430 | $20.40 | |
| California | 70,050 | $102,920 | $49.48 | |
| Colorado | 9,980 | $80,620 | $38.76 | |
| Connecticut | 6,670 | $76,360 | $36.71 | |
| Delaware | 1,880 | $80,620 | $38.76 | |
| District of Columbia | 5,450 | $82,060 | $39.45 | |
| Florida | 45,360 | $66,320 | $31.88 | |
| Georgia | 21,380 | $50,710 | $24.38 | |
| Hawaii | 2,430 | $80,050 | $38.49 | |
| Idaho | 2,990 | $59,340 | $28.53 | |
| Illinois | 30,640 | $82,800 | $39.81 | |
| Indiana | 12,480 | $61,850 | $29.73 | |
| Iowa | 4,980 | $65,310 | $31.40 | |
| Kansas | 5,930 | $52,010 | $25.00 | |
| Kentucky | 6,830 | $46,910 | $22.55 | |
| Louisiana | 12,450 | $44,790 | $21.53 | |
| Maine | 2,220 | $56,930 | $27.37 | |
| Maryland | 11,940 | $77,890 | $37.45 | |
| Massachusetts | 17,470 | $73,560 | $35.37 | |
| Michigan | 16,640 | $64,380 | $30.95 | |
| Minnesota | 9,200 | $76,960 | $37.00 | |
| Mississippi | 7,410 | $38,940 | $18.72 | |
| Missouri | 13,410 | $56,610 | $27.22 | |
| Montana | 2,000 | $60,640 | $29.15 | |
| Nebraska | 3,730 | $62,530 | $30.06 | |
| Nevada | 5,720 | $74,940 | $36.03 | |
| New Hampshire | 2,890 | $63,670 | $30.61 | |
| New Jersey | 20,650 | $91,690 | $44.08 | |
| New Mexico | 4,870 | $55,420 | $26.65 | |
| New York | 49,910 | $80,590 | $38.75 | |
| North Carolina | 21,040 | $51,860 | $24.93 | |
| North Dakota | 1,850 | $64,470 | $31.00 | |
| Ohio | 24,640 | $67,110 | $32.27 | |
| Oklahoma | 9,140 | $55,740 | $26.80 | |
| Oregon | 5,220 | $78,000 | $37.50 | |
| Pennsylvania | 26,770 | $74,270 | $35.71 | |
| Rhode Island | 1,810 | $68,580 | $32.97 | |
| South Carolina | 11,550 | $49,140 | $23.63 | |
| South Dakota | 1,830 | $52,580 | $25.28 | |
| Tennessee | 12,310 | $48,530 | $23.33 | |
| Texas | 60,440 | $66,890 | $32.16 | |
| Utah | 5,170 | $60,730 | $29.20 | |
| Vermont | 1,220 | $57,780 | $27.78 | |
| Virginia | 17,690 | $59,720 | $28.71 | |
| Washington | 8,670 | $92,390 | $44.42 | |
| West Virginia | 3,170 | $47,160 | $22.67 | |
| Wisconsin | 11,900 | $71,230 | $34.25 | |
| Wyoming | 1,300 | $58,380 | $28.07 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that prepares individuals to enforce natural resource and environmental protection regulations and laws; and to perform emergency duties to protect human life, property and natural resources, including fire prevention and control measures, and emergency and rescue procedures. Includes instruction in natural and physical sciences, natural resource management, outdoor field skills, firearms and outdoor equipment and vehicle operation, evidence collection and environmental sampling and monitoring, natural resource legislation, environmental compliance techniques, patrol procedures, investigation and report writing, interpersonal skills and crisis intervention, community liaison, public safety, public education, and public relations. Note: this program was re-instated after being deleted from CIP 2000; previously, it was coded as 03.0203.
A program of study that focuses on the general study of criminal justice and corrections. Includes instruction in criminology, criminal justice, correctional science, forensic science, law enforcement, psychology, and ethics.
A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of police and public security officers, including patrol and investigative activities, traffic control, crowd control and public relations, witness interviewing, evidence collection and management, basic crime prevention methods, weapon and equipment operation and maintenance, report preparation and other routine law enforcement responsibilities.
A program focusing on the principles, procedures, techniques, legal concerns, and problems associated with a criminal investigation. Includes instruction in administrative law and procedures, courtroom evidence management and preparation, case presentation and court testimony, description and identification, state and federal criminal law and procedures, informant and suspect rights, officer liability, informant and witness management, victim awareness, tactical interviewing, psychology, criminal investigation methods and procedures, report writing and documentation, investigative techniques, and case management.
A program focusing on the principles and techniques of providing physical security protection to clients in various environments and situations. Includes instruction in security intelligence and information resources, operations planning and surveying, operations security, weapons and explosives, defense and offense techniques, security and surveillance systems, communications systems, perimeter and access control, weapons of mass destruction, contingency planning, crowd control, cover and evacuation, combat and vehicle techniques, and applicable legal and administrative responsibilities.
A program that focuses on the application of clinical and criminal laboratory science, investigative techniques, and criminology to the reconstruction of crimes and the analysis of physical evidence. Includes instruction in laboratory science, laboratory procedures, criminology and police science, evidentiary testing and analysis, computer applications, record-keeping, reconstruction techniques, evidence handling and storage, and applications to specific types of evidence and crimes.
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$70,750 per yearNational average salaryModerateJob growth rate
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High school diploma or equivalentTypical education requirement
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Moderate-term on-the-job trainingTypical on-the-job training requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as police and sheriff's patrol officers.
- Less than high school 1%
- High school graduate 12%
- College dropout 30%
- Associate’s degree 17%
- Bachelor’s degree 32%
- Master’s degree 6%
- Doctorate degree 1%
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